Modeling Vehicles in Maya

Lynda

Course Summary

Model a fully detailed Shelby Cobra automobile using both polygon and NURBS techniques.

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Course Description

In this course, Ryan Kittleson models a fully detailed Shelby Cobra automobile using both polygon and NURBS modeling techniques. The body, wheels, and interior are all modeled from scratch using blueprints and reference photos. The course covers aspects of modeling useful for many types of objects that go beyond automobiles, such as modeling complex shapes, editing NURBs objects, and creating clean models from scan data.
Topics include:

Setting up Maya for modeling

Using Blinn materials for modeling

Importing a scanned or sculpted model

Extruding polygons

Modeling with image planes

Dealing with body panels like the hood and doors

Creating detailed tire tread

Making the wheel rims

Modeling the seats, steering wheel, and shifter

Making rivets

Working symmetrically

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Course Description

In this course, Ryan Kittleson models a fully detailed Shelby Cobra automobile using both polygon and NURBS modeling techniques. The body, wheels, and interior are all modeled from scratch using blueprints and reference photos. The course covers aspects of modeling useful for many types of objects that go beyond automobiles, such as modeling complex shapes, editing NURBs objects, and creating clean models from scan data.
Topics include:

Setting up Maya for modeling

Using Blinn materials for modeling

Importing a scanned or sculpted model

Extruding polygons

Modeling with image planes

Dealing with body panels like the hood and doors

Creating detailed tire tread

Making the wheel rims

Modeling the seats, steering wheel, and shifter

Making rivets

Working symmetrically

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Course Syllabus

Introduction
Welcome
Using the exercise files
1. Preparing Maya for Modeling
Setting up Maya for modeling
Using Blinn materials for modeling
Understanding surface normal direction
2. Modeling Based on Scan Data or a Digital Sculpt
Importing a scanned or sculpted model
Preparing the mesh for remodeling
Snapping polygon vertices to the concept car
Extruding polygons
3. Modeling Based on Reference Images
Gathering reference images
Setting up image planes
Modeling with image planes
Blocking out the basic shape
Using a photo reference to complement blueprints
Adding a back image plane
Blocking out the back end
Finishing the front-end blockout
4. Modeling Complex Curvature
Tweaking the model
Using Smooth Mesh Preview
Making sharp creases
5. Refining the Body Shapes
Cutting out the hood, door, and trunk
Adjusting the separate panels
Forming the hood air intake
Mirroring a model
Making vent holes
6. Modeling the Wheels
Making one section of tire tread
Duplicating the tire tread
Bending the tread into a circle
Beveling the edges of tread detail
Making the rims
Blocking out the rims
Detailing the rims
Finishing the rims
Modeling the hub
Referencing the wheel in the car scene
7. Modeling the Interior
Modeling the seats
Creating curves for the piping
Extruding the piping
Editing the NURBS curves
Creating the dashboard
Blocking out the steering wheel
Duplicating steering wheel parts
Combining the steering wheel parts
Finishing the steering wheel
Modeling the shifter
Making the flexible shifter guard
Modeling the screw head
8. Modeling the Finishing Touches
Making the roll bars
Using bump maps to create headlight detail
Starting the exhaust pipes
Making the curved exhaust pipes
Modeling the windshield
Making the windshield frame
Cutting out the gas cap indentation
Making the gas cap
Making rivets
Duplicating rivets along a path
Mirroring models: Advanced tips
Examining the finished Shelby Cobra
Conclusion
Next steps